Bowstring silencer

ABSTRACT

An element of disclike or wheellike configuration integrally molded of resilient material, having a central hub with an aperture therethrough for receiving the bowstring, by which such element is mounted thereupon, and having an annular skirt outwardly of the hub, with a plurality of spaced openings through the skirt radially of the hub.

Unite States Patent [72} Inventor Robert E. Stinson Acme, Mich.

[21] AppLNe 783,180

[22] Filed Dec. 12,1968

[45] Patented June 15, 1971 [73] Assignee Kwikee Kwiver Co., Inc.

Acme, Mich.

[54] BOWSTRING SILENCER 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. C1 124/30 [51] 1nt.Cl F4lb 5/00 [50] Field of Search 124/30 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,902,821 9/1959 Kelly 46/30X 3,177,611 4/1965 Beck 46/25 3,224,136 12/1965 Moryl 46/31X Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Att0rneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga and Cooper ABSTRACT: An element of disclike or wheellike configuration integrally molded of resilient material, having a central hub with an aperture therethrough for receiving the bowstring, by which such element is mounted thereupon, and having an annular skirt outwardly of the hub, with a plurality of spaced openings through the skirt radially of the hub.

BOWS'IRING SILENCER BACKGROUND in my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,629, I have disclosed a bowstring silencer device essentially comprising a hub with three radially extending and equally spaced arms, which device is mounted upon the bowstring and disposed at the two primary vibrational nodes on the bowstring, normally about 10 inches from each tip of the bow, and which operates to substantially eliminate the characteristic twang" generated by releasing the bowstring to propel an arrow from the bow. As explained in the aforementioned previous patent, this characteristic noise has long plagued archers and bow hunters, since it almost invariably produces a reflex action in a hunted animal causing it to flinch and thereby duck" away from the arrow, which then misses its intended target.

The bowstring silencer disclosed in the aforementioned prior patent has been strikingly successful in its intended purpose, and has been the subject of widespread use; however, it is felt by some archers and bow hunters that this device is somewhat larger than would be ideally desired, and that it unduly weights the bowstring and produces a small but nonetheless undesired reduction in the cast" or trajectory of the arrow, even though the device is extremely effective in its primary function, i.e., that of silencing the characteristic noise ofthe bowstring.

THE. PRESENT INVENTION While it is to a considerable extent debatable whether the aforementioned aspects of my previous silencer are actually true in fact, or are true to any really significant degree, it is nonetheless a principle of general desirability to encumber the bowstring to the absolute smallest extent possible, and for this purpose it is desirable to reduce the size and weight of the silencer in any way possible. For these reasons, the present invention is now provided as an improvement of my previous device, and is particularly noteworthy in view of its small size and compact nature, providing an extremely small mass and yet maintaining an exceptionally high level of silencing efficiency. Moreover, the present silencer device retains the desired simplicity embodied in its predecessor, providing for easy and rapid manufacture and, therefore, desirably low purchase price.

Briefly stated, the present silencer comprises a generally disc-shaped body of resilient material having a generally centrally disposed transverse aperture through which the bowstring is threaded, and further having an outer peripheral portion surrounding such aperture, such portion preferably including a number of openings, thereby producing a structure which in effect has a substantially continuous rim portion surrounding the mounting aperture, and which has a support web carrying the outer rim, the support web comprising spaced arm elements.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a conventional bow, with a pair of silencers mounted in the proper manner, and indicating in phantom the nodal vibration pattern exhibited by the conventional bowstring;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged central section of the structure of FIG. 2, taken through the plane III-III thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an overhead plan view of yet another embodiment.

FIRST EMBODIMENT Referring in more detail to the drawings, it should first be observed that a pair of the bowstring silencers of the invention are mounted on the bowstring 12 at positions spaced from the two opposite tips of the bow, with one silencer in each of the areas located between the tip of the bow and its grip. More specifically, the bowstring 12 produces vibrational nodes generally as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1, with a minor node adjacent each tip, and with a pair of major nodes between the minor nodes and the center of the string. Each one of a pair of silencers should be mounted on the: bowstring centrally of each such major vibrational node. Aswill be understood, the precise optimum position for the silencers on a given bow may be rapidly determined through a small amount of experimentation.

The first embodiment of the invention, seen in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a generally discshaped member which is preferably of integrally molded construction. The material from which the silencer is made should be one of a resiliently flexible character, having asomewhat rubbery nature. While there may well be at least a limited number of materials available which would be satisfactory for the purpose, the preferred material is a polyvinyl chloride and copolymer grouping, such as is sold under the trademark geon" by the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company.

Structurally, the silencer 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is, as stated, somewhat disclike in nature, i.e., having a continuous and basically rounded peripheral shape, and being decidedly narrower than it is wide or diametrally. More specifically still, the silencer has a raised or thickened central hub portion 14, through which a mounting aperture 16 is formed, transversely of the silencer itself, and a generally flat, annular, apron area 18 surrounding the hub 14 and smoothly communicating therewith. As illustrated, the peripheral rim of the apron I8 is preferably circular, although it need not be so to a point of precision. Extending through the apron 18 are a plurality of secondary openings 20 which are preferably equally spaced around the apron. These secondary openings contribute importantly to the silencing efficiency of the device, since they materially increase its vibration absorbing characteristics without materially diminishing its structural integrity. In the most preferred form of the invention, the overall diameter of the silencer may be remarkably small, on the order of 1 inch, with the secondary openings totaling five in number and each occupying a major part of the width of the apron area. Of course, the mounting aperture 16 should be slightly smaller than the thickness of the bowstring, so that the silencer is frictionally held in place upon the string.

A second embodiment of the invention, designated 110, is illustrated in FIG. 4. This device is extremely simple in construction, and yet will provide at least. a moderate or minimal amount of bowstring silencing. The device has a central mounting aperture 116, but is devoid of the central hub portion described in connection with the previous embodiment, as well as being devoid of the secondary openings 20. On the other hand, the device 110 is somewhat thinner than the previous embodiment, and should be of somewhat more flexible material; indeed, the material used in this embodiment of the invention should be so flexible that it is barely self-supporting when suspended upon a bowstring through its mounting aperture I16, and when so suspended may droop slightly in a somewhat random pattern to produce a slightly radially fluted appearance, as illustrated. Of course, the overall shape of the silencer 110 is preferably basically circular just as in the case of the silencer 10 described above.

A third and perhaps most preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein it is designated by the numeral 210. Primarily, silencer 210 has the same overall structural features of the silencer 10 described above, including the same type of central hub portion 214 having a concentric mounting aperture 216, and with a generally flat apron area 218 surrounding the hub. Also, the silencer 210 has a plurality secondary openings 220 spaced around its apron area. In this case, however, each of the secondary openings 220 is preferably keyhole-shaped, i.e., it has a primary portion 222 which is round in shape, and it also has a secondary portion 224, comprising in effect a narrow slit extending between the primary or major part of the opening and the edge extremity of the apron. Additionally, the silencer 210 includes a plurality of spaced slots 226 extending radially inwardly from the edge of the apron and spaced between each of the secondary openings 220. Both the slots or slits 224 and 226 may be quite narrow, on the order of one thirty-second to one-sixteenth inch, and it is to be observed that the end extremities of each of these slots or slits is preferably smoothly rounded, both at the outer edge of the apron and at the inner end extremity of the slot, whether that be in communication with the secondary openings 220, as in the case of the slits 224, or merely at the blind end of the slots 226.

The embodiment of the invention just described produces maximum bowstring noise suppression or silencing, and its total effectiveness is surprisingly great, particularly in view of the relatively small size and weight of the overall device. Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the molding art that this silencer device may readily be produced by modern injection-molding techniques in great quantity and at low production costs.

It is entirely conceivably that upon examining the foregoing disclosure, those skilled in the art may devise particular embodiments of the concepts forming the basis of the invention which differ somewhat from the preferred embodiment shown and described herein, or may make various changes in structural details to the present embodiment. Consequently, it is to be recognized that the preferred embodiment shown and described is for purposes of general illustration only and is in no way intended to illustrate all possible forms of the inventron.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A bowstring silencer device, comprising: a generally discshaped body of resilient material; said body having an outer peripheral edge and a thickened central hub portion which defines a opening with a portion disposed generally centrally of the body, for mounting the same upon a bowstring; and said body defining means including at least one second opening located generally between said first opening portion and said edge for increasing the vibration absorbing characteristics of said device.

2. The bowstring silencer of claim ll, wherein said body defines a plural number of said second openings.

3. The bowstring silencer of claim 2 wherein each of said second openings is mutually spaced from the others.

4. The bowstring silencer of claim 2, wherein said body defines said central hub portion and said first opening comprises an aperture disposed centrally of said hub and extending transversely therethrough.

5. The bowstring silencer of claim 4, wherein said body further defines a generally fiat apron area outwardly of said hub, said second openings located generally within said apron area.

6. The bowstring silencer of claim 5, wherein said second openings include a primary portion located within said apron area and a slot extending between said primary portion and said peripheral edge.

7. The bowstring silencer of claim 6, wherein said body further comprises at least one slot extending from said edge inwardly of said apron area and between said second openings.

8. The bowstring silencer of claim 7, wherein said body comprises a plurality of said slots, at least one thereof disposed between each pair of said second openings.

9. The bowstring silencer of claim 2, wherein said second openings comprise slots extending inwardly of said body from the body's peripheral edge.

10. The bowstring silencer of claim 9, wherein said slots are mutually spaced, and wherein said body further comprises a plurality of apertures, at least one such aperture located between certain ones of said slots.

11. The bowstring silencer of claim 10, wherein said slots are disposed generally radially of said bod 12. he bowstring silencer of claim 1 wherein said body defines said central hub portion and said first opening comprises an aperture disposed centrally of said hub and extending transversely therethrough.

13. A bowstring silencer device, comprising: a body, said body having an outer rim portion and a support web portion carrying and supporting said rim portion; means for attaching said body in place upon a bowstring; and at least one of said rim or said web portions being resiliently flexible said means comprising a central hub having an aperture therein for the projection therethrough of a bowstring, said hub having outer surfaces extending outwardly from the body and providing a thickened section; and said body defining means including at least one second opening located generally between the aperture in the hub and the peripheral edge of the body for increasing the vibration absorbing characteristics of said device.

14. The bowstring silencer of claim 13, wherein said support web portion comprises at least one arm element.

15. The bowstring silencer of claim 15, wherein said support web portion comprises a plurality of spaced, mutually distinct arm elements.

16. The bowstring silencer ofclaim 15, wherein said body is an integral unitary structure of resiliently flexible material.

17. The bowstring silencer of claim 14, wherein said rim portion is a continuous perimetrical section of said body. 

1. A bowstring silencer device, comprising: a generally discshaped body of resilient material; said body having an outer peripheral edge and a thickened central hub portion which defines a opening with a portion disposed generally centrally of the body, for mounting the same upon a bowstring; and said body defining means including at least one second opening located generally between said first opening portion and said edge for increasing the vibration absorbing characteristics of said device.
 2. The bowstring silencer of claim 1, wherein said body defines a plural number of said second openings.
 3. The bowstring silencer of claim 2, wherein each of said second openings is mutually spaced from the others.
 4. The bowstring silencer of claim 2, wherein said body defines said central hub portion and said first opening comprises an aperture disposed centrally of said hub and extending transversely therethrough.
 5. The bowstring silencer of claim 4, wherein said body further defines a generally flat apron area outwardly of said hub, said second openings located generally within said apron area.
 6. The bowstring silencer of claim 5, wherein said second openings include a primary portion located within said apron area and a slot extending between said primary portion and said peripheral edge.
 7. The bowstring silencer of claim 6, wherein said body further comprises at least one slot exTending from said edge inwardly of said apron area and between said second openings.
 8. The bowstring silencer of claim 7, wherein said body comprises a plurality of said slots, at least one thereof disposed between each pair of said second openings.
 9. The bowstring silencer of claim 2, wherein said second openings comprise slots extending inwardly of said body from the body''s peripheral edge.
 10. The bowstring silencer of claim 9, wherein said slots are mutually spaced, and wherein said body further comprises a plurality of apertures, at least one such aperture located between certain ones of said slots.
 11. The bowstring silencer of claim 10, wherein said slots are disposed generally radially of said body.
 12. The bowstring silencer of claim 11, wherein said body defines said central hub portion and said first opening comprises an aperture disposed centrally of said hub and extending transversely therethrough.
 13. A bowstring silencer device, comprising: a body, said body having an outer rim portion and a support web portion carrying and supporting said rim portion; means for attaching said body in place upon a bowstring; and at least one of said rim or said web portions being resiliently flexible said means comprising a central hub having an aperture therein for the projection therethrough of a bowstring, said hub having outer surfaces extending outwardly from the body and providing a thickened section; and said body defining means including at least one second opening located generally between the aperture in the hub and the peripheral edge of the body for increasing the vibration absorbing characteristics of said device.
 14. The bowstring silencer of claim 13, wherein said support web portion comprises at least one arm element.
 15. The bowstring silencer of claim 15, wherein said support web portion comprises a plurality of spaced, mutually distinct arm elements.
 16. The bowstring silencer of claim 15, wherein said body is an integral unitary structure of resiliently flexible material.
 17. The bowstring silencer of claim 14, wherein said rim portion is a continuous perimetrical section of said body. 